Els, Scott Once Thought Bracing Of Putters Should Be Banned

John Strege at Local Knowledge shares past comments from Ernie Els and Adam Scott about the bracing of long putters against the body, something both are now doing.

Els in 2009: "They should definitely be banned. I believe nerves and the skill of putting are part of the game."

Scott on belly putters in 2004: "I totally agree with Ernie and believe they should be banned. I don't think that you should be allowed to rest any club against any other part of your body. It can't be a true swing of a club or a true stroke of the putter if you are resting it against your body and it's for that reason I agree the belly putter should be banned."

There's also this fun 2004 piece from John Huggan where Els suggests players take a tablet if they can't handle the short stick.

Update on 2011-04-26 04:14 by Geoff

**Elling and Huggan touched on this topic in this week's Pond Scrum.

Huggan: I hate those things. And no, hate is not a strong word. I can't tell you how disappointed I was to see Ernie wielding one of those so-called belly-putters. No one has been more outspoken against them -- OK, maybe Tom Watson -- so it was a sign of desperation as well as resignation from Els. Such a shame.

Huggan: I remember writing the cover story for Golf World when Ernie was all over Trevor Immelman for using a belly putter in Germany a few years ago. Wonder what Trevor is saying now?

Elling: I read a couple of stories last week from Hilton Head, where several other pros were tinkering with the belly putter. These guys are unabashed followers. When DiMarco was contending at majors, half the tour was trying the Claw. If Tommy Gainey won a couple of events, guys would start copying his swing, which looks like a guy playing Whack-A-Mole with a billiards cue.